A dog has been saved just in time from a hot car by workers from Newquay Town Council it has been revealed.

The incident happened yesterday afternoon and officers from Devon and Cornwall Police attended.

In a Facebook post from the town council it has been confirmed the owners of the dog will now be issued with a fine by the police.

It is not known where exactly the dog was found or what time.

This is what the town council posted on their Facebook page yesterday evening:

DO NOT LEAVE DOGS IN CARS!!!!!

IT IS TOO HOT!!!

Today we have rescued a dog that was left in an extremely hot car. Police attended and will be issuing a fine - the car was unlocked otherwise we would not have hesitated in smashing a window to gain entry!

Thank you to the members of the public who reported this to us (just in time)!

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The police raced to the car park outside the Royal Cornwall Hospital but the owner returned before they were forced to break into the vehicle.

The RSPCA has issued warnings about people leaving their pets in the car in hot weather over recent days.

Last year, calls to the RSPCA about dogs overheating reached nearly 8,000 and April's mini heatwave saw the RSPCA’s emergency hotline receive 241 calls in six days, 105 of which on just one day (April 19) as temperatures soared.

In 2016, the RSPCA’s emergency hotline received 7,187 calls about animals in hot environments. The charity was pleased to see a drop in the number of calls (8,779 in 2015) which suggested fewer people were leaving dogs in potentially fatal situations or that more people were taking on board the group’s main advice to dial 999 instead.

Chips the Dog

But the organisations has worryingly seen another spike in the number of calls coming through to its 24-hour emergency hotline - as reports rose again last year (2017) to 7,876* - the majority of which were regarding dogs.

RSPCA dog welfare expert Lisa Hens said: “It’s really concerning to see that the number of calls about this issue actually rose last year when it had been steadily falling over previous years. We had hoped that the message was finally getting through but, sadly, it seems that this may not be the case.

“It’s so dangerous to leave your pet inside any hot environment whether it be a car, a conservatory or even a caravan. The temperature inside a car can soar to 47°C (117°F) within minutes, even when the outside temperature is just 22°C (72°F) and this can be fatal for a dog.

“Opening a window, parking in the shade or leaving a bowl of water for your dog isn’t enough and still leaves dogs in serious danger of suffering from heatstroke. And popping into the shop for five minutes is long enough for your dog to be affected.

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“Dogs are covered in fur and do not sweat in the same way as humans do. Unlike humans, dogs pant to help keep themselves cool. The effectiveness of panting is reduced at high temperatures and humidities. Cars heat up very rapidly in hot – or even warm – weather. Air-conditioning can disguise the danger that a dog will face once the engine is turned off.

(Image: Getty)

“We would simply ask dog owners never to leave their pet unattended in a parked or stationary vehicle and, if the weather is warm, to leave them at home where they can access cool, shady parts of the house and lots of water.”

What to do if you see a dog in a car on a hot day

In an emergency, it is best to dial 999 and report a dog in a hot car to police. The RSPCA may not be able to attend quickly enough and, with no powers of entry, we’d need police assistance at such an incident.

If the animal is displaying any sign of heatstroke - such as panting heavily, drooling excessively, is lethargic or uncoordinated, or collapsed and vomiting - call 999 immediately.

If the situation becomes critical and police can’t attend, many people’s instinct is to break into the car to free the dog. But please be aware that, without proper justification, this could be classed as criminal damage. Make sure you tell the police of your intentions and take photos or footage of the dog as well as names and numbers of witnesses. The law states that you have a lawful excuse to commit damage if you believe that the owner of the property that you damage would consent to the damage if they knew the circumstances.

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Once removed from the car, move the dog to a shaded/cool area and pour small amounts of cool water over their body. Don’t use cold water as this could put your pet into shock. Allow the dog to drink small amounts of cool water. Once the dog is cool take him to nearest vet as a matter of urgency.

If the dog isn’t displaying signs of heatstroke, establish how long the dog has been in the car and make a note of the registration. Ask a member of staff to make an announcement of the situation over the tannoy, if possible, and get someone to stay with the dog to monitor its condition.

You can call the RSPCA’s 24-hour emergency cruelty line on 0300 1234 999 for advice but, if a dog is in danger, dialling 999 should always be the first step.